Thermostat for conveying expected thermal responses to users
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermostats rely on numerical representations, which fail to effectively convey expected thermal responses and HVAC system performance, making it difficult for users to understand and optimize energy conservation.
Innovation Solution
A thermostat with a graphical user interface that calculates and displays expected thermal responses using temperature sensors, setpoints, and processor-executable instructions, providing visualizations such as wave curves and color-coded energy consumption information to enhance user understanding and energy conservation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If numerical representations are used to indicate system operation and user input, then the thermostat can provide precise temperature data, but the user cannot visually understand expected thermal responses and HVAC system performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visualization layer between the numerical temperature data and the user. The processor generates visual representations (arrows, bars, or icons) that mediate the communication of thermal response information, making abstract temperature changes perceptible and understandable to users without losing the precision of the underlying numerical data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs color changes and visual intensity variations to represent different thermal response states. By mapping temperature change expectations to visual characteristics (such as arrow direction, bar height, or color intensity), the system conveys complex thermal information in an intuitively understandable format that preserves information while enhancing user comprehension.
2Loss of energy
If detailed HVAC-related information is provided to users, then energy conservation can be encouraged, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments complex HVAC information into distinct visual components that can be independently understood. By dividing thermal response information, energy consumption data, and system status into separate visual elements (such as individual arrows for different time periods or segmented bars), the interface presents detailed information in a structured, non-overwhelming manner that encourages energy conservation without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional numerical displays to two-dimensional visual representations. By adding spatial dimensions (position, size, orientation) to the display of thermal response information, the system conveys more information in a more intuitive format, reducing the perceived complexity while maintaining or enhancing the ability to encourage energy conservation behaviors.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for summarizing and conveying expected thermal responses is described. Expected thermal responses of a room or an entire structure are calculated based on thermostat setpoints. The expected thermal responses are summarized into an expected thermal response visualization and displayed to a user for easy understanding of current, and future, temperature expectations before or as a room or entire structure is heated or cooled.